SACS grants Truett-McConnell degree in World Missions

By J. Gerald Harris, Editor of The Christian Index

Published June 17, 2010

CLEVELAND — Emir Caner, president of Truett-McConnell College, has announced that on May 4 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools approved TMC’s application for the Bachelor of Arts in World Missions and is now accepting students into this degree program.

Caner added, “The addition of this degree program has been received with great jubilation because this is the perhaps the biggest news to come from TMC in a decade.”

Edward Pruitt, associate professor of Christian Studies/Missions, will administer the degree, teach many of the classes, and mentor the students as they progress through their junior and senior years.

Pruitt explained, “I believe this new degree is a natural out-flowing of the very heart of Truett-McConnell. It demonstrates that TMC is serious concerning taking the Gospel of Christ to the nations. We hope to train up a generation committed to global evangelization.

“Certainly, this degree will appeal to those who sense a call of God to full-time missions, but I think that any student considering missions, evangelism, or church planting would benefit from this World Missions degree.

“In my nine short months at Truett-McConnell College one thing has become clearly evident,” Pruitt commented. “TMC has a deep love and commitment to Georgia Baptists. The GBC and Georgia Baptists have a heart for the task of taking the Gospel to the Nations.

“For years students called to ministry have had a specific degree to equip them for their call. However, those called to missions and evangelism were left without a specific degree that could assist them in their call. Today, TMC is proud to serve the churches of the GBC and mentor students whose calling is to the ends of the earth.”

Pruitt added, “I believe that when students from Georgia Baptist churches come to TMC and prepare to engage the world for Christ through the World Missions Degree, Georgia Baptists will be pleased with the finished product. My desire is to equip every missions student to be a biblically-centered missionary that understands that missions must be theologically sound, yet it has to be relevant to the culture to which they are called. That is a delicate balance and at TMC we understand that balance.”

Pruitt concluded, “I have been asked many times why I am so passionate about missions. Well, some years back I caught a glimpse of the heartbeat of God for the nations and I have never lost that vision.

“My prayer for Georgia Baptists is that we all might catch that vision and do whatever it takes to reach the nations, no matter what it costs.”